Prophecy

"Here it is revealed... In my dream, you, who are solely pervy, will still manage to become a splendid shinobi... and will come to stand on your own two feet, acquiring disciples... One such disciple will one day bring about a great change to the world of shinobi. This, I saw in my dream."

"A great change?"

"Either great stability or great destruction... The likes of which this world has never seen before. One of those two changes."

"One of those two ... ? What do you mean? "

"You will guide that revolution. And eventually, there shall come a day when you will be forced to make a critical selection."

"Selection ?"

"That choice you make... shall decide which way the change goes."

Jiraiya listens to the great lord elder toad's prophecy attentively and nervously, then asks :

"I ... what do I do... in order to make the correct choice ?"

"In my dream, you walked the world, writing books."

"Books... What for ?"

"I do not know either... but perhaps it means you shall travel widely, seeing all things in the universe."

"Great lord elder, have your prophecies ever not come to pass ?"

"Never..." That sent a chill down Jiraiya's spine. The great lord elder toad continues. "Besides which, I once saw a prophetic dream about myself... that a human child would one day wander into mount Myoboku. He would be granted toad power and a prophecy."

Jiraiya reminisces. That was the conversation Jiraiya had with the great lord elder toad, as a kid. He thinks to himself :

"That child of prophecy, huh... it may be Nagato, back in the Hidden Rain village. I should check whether he's really the Akatsuki's leader or not... But I can't leave Naruto like this alone."

Jiraiya grabs a double ice cream from the shop and starts looking up from tree branches, until he finally finds his location. He jumps and lands next to him.

"Yo."

"Ah... Pervy sage."

"I heard about Sasuke... I couldn't leave while my disciple is all glum." Jiraiya splits the ice cream and gives Naruto his half. "Here, cheer up."

Naruto takes his part and stares at it before finally talking after a bit of silence :

"Sakura at first... Now Sasuke... I couldn't save either of them. All I did was lose fights and lose control of Nine-tails' Chakra. Every mission ends up a failure because of me. But I'm the only one staying alive while my friends pay the price. If only I was stronger..." A small portion of his icecream melts and falls off his stick.

"No point looking back in the past. You can't change it. If you dwell on it, nothing is going to change and, you'll keep losing more, like this. " Jiraiya points at the fallen bit of ice cream, then at the majority of what's left of it, still on the stick, before continuing :

"But you must make the most of the present moment, so that now and the future can be better."

"Now and the future..."

"That's right. Kakashi once visited me on a moment like this. He lost his parents and lived alone. Then lost his teammates and teacher. He is just like you. Except the boy was a prodigy, excelling in academy and got early promotions unlike you. But death, war and this world are merciless. Skill isn't enough. You must not lose sight of what you want. "

"What I want... is to end this madness and become Hokage."

"That's right. Let's head to that same Hokage's office now, though. Don't want to keep tsunade waiting for too long."

"Eh... sure."

By the time they finished talking, they were already looking at the building. All that was left was to head up to the office.

"Yo, Tsunade. Oh, Mr. Fukasaku is here too."

"Oh. Jiraiya-boy."

"Jiraiya. You're still here..." In a corner of her heart, Tsunade felt intense relief.

"Correct. I couldn't leave while this youth is gloomy."

"Leave where ?" Naruto asks in his usual curiosity, but they both know they can't discuss a dangerous mission like that in front of him, he'll object. Although they agree with him.

"Doesn't matter for now. Anyway, Tsunade; we're going to Mount Myoboku for a little bit, with Mr. Fukasaku."

"Woah. You're gonna train me ?"

"More specifically, Mr. Fukasaku is going to train us both. I'll be more like a sparring partner now."

"Alright! I'm pumped." Seeing Naruto suddenly break out of his sad shell brought a smile to everyone in the room. Being happy and mischievous does suit him better, after all.

"I wanted to come cheer you up, but it seems Master Jiraiya beat me to it." Shikamaru enters the office.

"Oh, Shikamaru."

"I came with two important guests. Lady Tsunade." Shikamaru makes way for them and reveals... Temari and Kankuro.

"Temari. Kankuro. What bring you two here ? Is something up in the Hidden Sand ?" Tsunade asks.

"I'm afraid it is the case, Lady Hokage. We haven't even been able to properly mourn Gaara's death. There has been a rise in Anti-Kazekage Factions. They basically say the previous village heads have been incompetent and are looking for powerful ones, even if the method they employ are shady." Kankuro starts by explaining the situation in a worried look. Temari follows up :

"And some of them are hunting the previous Kazekage family. That is why we're here."

"That is indeed a troubling situation. We're sorry we couldn't be of help with Gaara's case."

"Not at all, Lady Hokage. You didn't have to help, but you still did, and we're grateful for that. We have more ominous news, though." Temari prepares for the announcement.

"What is it ?" Tsunade shows an expression that expects the worst.

"Some are considering the Akatsuki member - Sasori of the Red Sands - for that post..."

Naruto's attention intensively spikes up.

"This is bad! This is bound to topple the fragile power balance of the world. And wasn't he the one who killed the Third ?"

"Indeed. Some even want Orochimaru, who killed the Fourth."

"Calm down. Naruto. Remember, there is nothing you can do for now. Let's go."

"I'll beat them up to a pulp, I swear it." Naruto is dragged in his fit of rage

[Reverse Summoning Jutsu]

Fukasaku teleports the three of them to Mount Myoboku.

"This is problematic. A coup is bound to start if this is not one already. Temari, Kankuro. You may stay in the Hidden leaf while we look up adequate solutions."

"Alright. Thank you ma'am."

Meanwhile, on the other side of the leaf; in a shady place, outside the curious gazes.

"It's been a while, Danzo."

"Orochimaru. Congratulations on your new body. It seems Sai did a good job."

"Indeed. I'm very thankful for that."

"I heard the Kazekage spot is open are some factions are debating options like you or that one Akatsuki member."

"Correct. I do not know for sure what course of action to take for now, though."

"We'll benefit more from you being the head of the Hidden sand, and me controlling the Hidden leaf."

"Still aiming for Tsunade's place, huh."

"The times are tough. The leaf needs a proper leader. And now is the time more than ever for one. Especially with a terrorist organisation aiming for control like so. If we're controlling both the Hidden leaf and Hidden sand, things are bound to head in a positive direction for both of us."

"I see. But the Kazekage incident is very recent. You wanted me for something else, didn't you ? Something that might... get Tsunade out of her place. Am I right ?" Orochimaru smiles deviously.

"Always the attentive one, as expected."